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1689. I cannot understand why you give such evidence as you do to the Committee. You went there and you found them in their whares because you kept the reason of your errand secret ?—They were served in the same way as I would serve Europeans. 1690. With a summons from the Magistrate's Court ?—Similarly. 1691. And yet you say they did not keep out of the way ?—I say they did not go away from me. 1692. The point put to you, Mr. Fisher, was, as to whether they did not keep out of the way of service?— They did not in my case. 1693. What do you mean ? I ask you again, if they had known that you had the notices in your pocket, do you think you would have found them in their whares ?—They would very likely have gone away if they had known. 1694. Do you say they did not keep out of the way of service?—l say they did not keep out of the way in my case. 1695. You managed to serve them by not letting them know you had the notices in your pocket ?—Yes. 1696. Is not that so? —It is correct. 1697. And you admit that if they had known you had the notices in your pocket they would not have been there?—l cannot say for certain. Probably they would not have been there. 1698. You know their wish in the matter ? —They would have gone out of the way, no doubt. 1699. Why did you let Mr. Levi and Mr. Sinclair be misled ? They did not want to be served, even these Waitotara Natives ; but you managed to serve them ? —Yes. 1700. Do you know what was the case north of Patea, in regard to the other persons who had to serve Maoris —do you know if they had any difficulty ?—I was not present much at the service of those Natives at all. 1701. From what you heard, was there any difficulty?—l have heard there was a difficulty. 1702. Is it not common talk of the district ?—lt is the talk north, I believe. 1703. Is it not common talk, the methods the Maoris used to evade service ? —lt is the talk in the northern part of the district. [Mr. Bell intimated that he would continue his questions on the following day if the Committee raised no objection.] 1704. Mr. Peacock.] In speaking of the value per acre of the land in lease 45, what do you consider a fair percentage to reckon for rent on the capital value ?—ln taking the capital value? 1705. You gave an estimate of what you considered the value for rent, and you gave some information as to what the land near it sold at: what do you consider the percentage on the value to make a fair rent ?—That is generally reckoned about 6 per cent. 1706. When you reckoned the Ihupuku Block worth 6s. 6d. an acre, did you include improvements in it ?—Yes. 1707. I understand you to say that the block sold was 100 acres ?—Which ? 1708. That block you spoke of as having been sold—Section 300. You said there were 100 acres in it?— Yes. 1709. You said it sold at £11 an acre—that is, £1,100 —and you said you considered that land worth £2 an acre more than the Ihupuku Block you were comparing it with?— That was after deducting the improvements, which I gave as being worth £350 —that was, £3 10s. an acre. 1710. And you said the land itself was worth more by £2 an acre —that was, £5 10s. an acre ?— That would be so. 1711. That would leave about £5 10s. an acre for the balance?— Yes. 1712. And you say 6 per cent, on that ?—I should say, take the value about 6 per cent. 1713. That would about come up to what you say ? —lt is somewhere about that. I simply state what I know of properties in the district. 1714. Hon. Captain Kenny.] How do you get at the capital value ? —From what I know of properties roundabout. 1715. You describe yourself as a Native Land Court Agent; as having held property; and as having been agent for companies : have you ever been a practical farmer yourself ?—I have been mixed up with farming for the last twenty years. 1716. Have you been a practical farmer yourself?— No. 1717. Of course you have not had any experience as to the cost of improvements on rough land ?—Yes ; I have had to pay for it—for the work of bushfalling and ploughing, and so forth—as agent for others, and for myself. 1718. Do you know the actual cost of clearing and sowing, &c. ?—I have supervised all my own properties. 1719. Do you know anything about the carrying-capacity of the land for sheep and cattle ?— I can form an idea. 1720. You can judge pretty well from personal experience ?—Yes. 1721. And what is the average carrying-capacity of the land you have been speaking of per acre ?—I should say the carrying-capacity of the land (Ihupuku) would be from two and a half to three sheep per acre. 1722. Is that the best land ? —Oh, no ; we have better land than that. 1723. What is the carrying capacity of the best land ?—Some of it would carry four sheep. 1724. That is, land ploughed and laid down with English grass?— Yes. 1725. What do you reckon should be paid by way of rent for sheep ?—Taking the capital value, I should say it would be about £2 per acre per sheep. 1726. There would be 6 per cent, on that?— Yes. 1727. You spoke of being present at the Arbitration Court when the arbitrators were sitting : do you know 7 them to be practical men? —Mr, Livingston, I believe